Australia Day Awards

Citizen of the Year will be awarded to the citizen judged to have made the most outstanding contribution to the City of Cessnock throughout the year prior to the Award Ceremony. This citizen must be 26 years or older at the time the award is presented. 

Achievers from any area, including arts, sport, the environment, community service, career, sustainable development or science and technology can be recognised by this Award. The most important criteria the judging panel will consider are results, determination, creativity, enthusiasm, commitment and a demonstrated search for excellence.

Senior Citizen of the Year aims to recognise the valuable contribution of local senior citizens in the Cessnock community, either recently or over a long period of time. Many of these dedicated people spend much of their time working for others and are often unassuming and modest about their efforts. This Award seeks to recognise their commitment.

Nomination for this Award is open to all residents of the City of Cessnock and they must be 65 years or older at the time the award is presented.

Young Citizen of the Year is presented to the young citizen of the City of Cessnock judged to have been the outstanding achiever during the year prior to the Award Ceremony.

Achievers from any area, including arts, sport, the environment, community service, sustainable development or science and technology can be recognised by this Award. The most important criteria the judging panel will consider are results, determination, creativity, enthusiasm, commitment and a demonstrated search for excellence.

Nomination for this Award is open to all residents of the City of Cessnock between 16 to 25 years of age at the time the award is presented.

This Award is specifically for a young female achiever. It is inspired by women contributing their service to the community and acknowledges the barriers to women seeking public office and being seen as “leaders”. The recipient will be a positive and inspirational role model to other young women who shows leadership and has made significant achievements and/or contributions to the community during the year prior to the Award Ceremony.

Nominations for this Award are open to residents of the City of Cessnock aged 16 to 25 years of age at the time the award is presented.

The City of Cessnock Community Event of the Year Award is presented to acknowledge outstanding achievement in conducting an event or events in the Cessnock community during the year prior to the Award Ceremony. The event will have been of benefit to the community or to specific community groups. Events to be considered could be from such areas as cultural, social, education, environment or sport. The benefits will be measured in ways additional to financial. The criteria for this Award are consistent with those outlined in the other Cessnock Australia Day Awards.

• Long term commitment to improving the environment by a person/s or organisation/s 
• Displays of innovation and accelerating solutions to environmental concerns
• Environmental education and awareness campaigns

This Award focuses on young community members contributions to improving our local environment. 

Nomination for this Award is open to all residents of the City of Cessnock between 16 to 25 years of age at the time the award is presented.

• Residential renovation, restoration, reconstruction and/or conservation work to a building, which demonstrates heritage value
• Non residential renovation, restoration, reconstruction and/or conservation work to a building or place which demonstrates heritage value
• Projects which contribute to the awareness and protection of an aspect of heritage throughout the Cessnock Local Government Area such as an historical research project, conservation study or heritage education/promotion project

• Advancing the profile of the Cessnock City
• Contributions to volunteering in the community
• Contributions to the delivery of community services
• Outstanding contributions within the community in a field of endeavour

• Nominees must be Australian citizens and reside in the Cessnock Local Government Area at the time of nomination
• Unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated in subsequent years
• Self nominations will not be accepted
• Awards will not be granted posthumously
• Sitting State and Federal politicians and current Vice-Regal Officers are not eligible. Retired politicians and officers would be considered for other areas of work in addition to their official duties.
• A person cannot receive a second award in the same Awards category but can be considered for recognition in a separate category in following years e.g. Young Citizen of the Year and then Citizen of the Year in a subsequent year.
• All nominees will be considered for the Citizen of the Year Award
• Nominees aged 16 to 25 years at the time the award is presented will also be considered for the Young Citizen of the Year Award

To ensure you nominate correctly, please read the following:

• The nomination should detail the nature, duration and impact of the nominee’s contribution to Cessnock Local Government Area
• Any supporting documentation should be attached to the nomination form
• All Awards will be announced and presented on Australia Day
• The selection of recipients will reflect the nominations received and information available to the Judging Panel at the time
• Cessnock City Council reserves the right to withdraw an award if further information or the recipient’s conduct draws the Awards into disrepute

For further information on the Awards, please email Tracey Cocking at tracey.cocking@cessnock.nsw.gov.au.

• Citizen of the Year, Jordan Fallon
• Senior Citizen of the Year, Michael Lowing
• Young Citizen of the Year, Isabella Metcalfe
• Maree Callaghan Award – Young Female Achiever, Georgia Bailey
• Community Event of the Year, Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival
• Environmental Award, Cessnock Community Leo Club
• Community Award, Rossalyn Manners
• Community Award, Dr Farouk Wasti
• Community Award, Dianne Threadgate
• Community Award, Ben Sams
• Community Award, Cynthia Morris
• Community Award, Alyse Illfe

• Citizen of the Year, Glenn Byrnes
• Senior Citizens on the Year, Les and Jane Goldie
• Young Citizen on the Year, Bethany Dwyer
• Community Event of the Year, International Womens Day Charity Dinner, Ms Natalie Kelly
• Environment Award, Chris Jackson
• Maree Callaghan Award – Young Female Achiever, Isabella Metcalfe
• Community Award, Emerson Worthington
• Community Award, Jesse Knight
• Community Award, Siara Nash
• Community Award, Kadie Sondermeyer
• Community Award, Jennefer Wratten
• Community Award, Katherine Kennedy

• Citizen of the Year, Melissa Gontier
• Senior Citizen on the Year, Edgar (Ted) Jackson
• Young Citizen on the Year, Chelsea Webb
• Community Event of the Year, Lost Diggers of Weston and Field of Honour
• Environment Award, Branxton Community Hall Committee
• Maree Callaghan Award – Young Female Achiever, Trinity Woodhouse
• Community Award, Stars of the Hunter Valley (Cancer Council NSW)
• Community Award, Central Hunter Business Chamber & the Hunter Multi Cultural Community
•  Community Award, Freemasons Cessnock
• Community Award, Amy Roberts
• Community Award, Rachel Threadgate
• Community Award, Amy Butler
• Community Award, Chloe Steel
• Community Award, Rose Lucas
• Community Award, Vincent Plater
• Community Award, Bethany Dwyer
• Community Award, Shane Rodger-Wilson
• Community Award, Kyle Gosper
• Community Award Olivia Chapman
• Community Award, Adam Robinson

• Citizen of the Year, Geoff Walker
• Senior Citizen on the Year, Mr John & Mrs Robbie Forsyth
• Young Citizen on the Year, Cooper Field
• Community Event of the Year, Kearsley Dawn Service
• Sport Award, Dorothy Heath
• Heritage Award, Carl Hoipo
• Maree Callaghan Award – Young Female Achiever, Olivia Palfreyman
• Community Award, Dale Goldie
• Community Award, Kylie Gray
• Community Award, Lorraine Giddins
• Community Award, Danny Hoggan